Micky Mellon on Halstead signing

5 August 2016

ShrewsWeb

Gaffer delighted to see Halstead sign

Micky Mellon believes Mark Halstead can push for the number one jersey after he signed a new one year contract with Shrewsbury Town.
Halstead made 16 league appearances as back up to Jayson Leutwiler last season and will add depth to an already strong goalkeeping department.
After training with the club all summer he has finally put pen to paper and Manager Micky Mellon is delighted to see him sign.
“It’s been something that we’ve been wanting to do for all of preseason, but these things take time and whatever way you look at it, the football club is a business and you can’t just roll with things unless we can have the money for it,” Micky told ShrewsWeb.
“The opportunity has come now for us to tie that all up and I’m delighted to get him in, because I think what a lot of people maybe forget about Mark is that he is still a developing goalkeeper.
“He came here two years ago and the person and the goalkeeper that we have now has developed into something very good. So, we’re really pleased with the way he’s developed and he’s another good development story for the football club.
“We were honest with him all the way along, we made it clear to him that it was something we wanted to get done, he trusted us, he knew that it was something we wanted to try and get over the line and I’m glad that I’ve fulfilled that contract for him.
“I’m pleased that he’s stayed loyal to us and believed that that’s what we wanted to do and I’m delighted to have a really talented goalkeeper continue his progress at the football club.”
Town now have 4 ‘keepers to choose from and Micky is hoping that they will all push each other in order to improve.
“He’s good competition for (Jayson) Leutwiler and doesn’t put too much pressure on young Cal (Burton), to keep allowing him to develop as well,” Micky said.
“It’s a really good supply line that we have, right back to Joe Hart and Harry (Lewis) going to Southampton, so we’ve got a good line of goalkeepers and a good track record of developing here.
“There’s got to be competition all over the pitch, to put that pressure on people to keep developing and keep working hard, live their lives properly, training properly and putting in performances, because you know if you don’t you’ve got somebody behind you who is doing that. So it can only be healthy for the group,” Micky added.
With Mark now resigning, it will allow Town’s younger goalies, Callum Burton and Shaun Rowley, to develop at their own pace. Micky admitted that he has a plan for both of them.
“Just to keep moving them forward and maybe try and find them opportunities, that if they come up, to go and get some football to keep them developing,” said Micky.
“But, we have really high hopes for the two of them, they’re lads of great promise and if called upon, like happened last season when Mark had to go in and be the number one, then we’ll quite comfortably bring in one of the other two in to come and play for us.”